West Virginia Online Colleges & Universities: Top Schools for 2017-2018

Though a relatively small state with a population under two million, West Virginia is home to a surprisingly vigorous higher education community with over 70 postsecondary institutions. What’s more surprising is that West Virginia also boasts a thriving online learning environment. This guide covers how to choose a fully-accredited West Virginia online college or university, the top online schools for 2017-2018 and what financial aid is available.

How Online Colleges Have Grown in West Virginia

West Virginia is home to nearly 40 colleges and universities offering some level of distance learning education, an impressive number given the state’s size and population. First among the state’s major distance learning providers is the University of West Virginia’s WVU Online program, which offers over 30 undergraduate and graduate degrees, eight certificates and more than 600 courses that can be completed either fully or partially online.

Distance learning programs are also available from the majority of the state’s public two-year colleges. The West Virginia Virtual Learning Network (WVVLN) is the governmental entity in charge of coordinating the online programs and courses offered at the state’s public colleges and universities.

Tuition & Financial Aid for West Virginia Colleges

Whether attending a community college or major university – online or on campus – the price of a college education today is substantial. The tuition costs for any individual student depend on several factors, including the specific school attended, whether the school is public or private and the level of degree or type of certificate program sought.

Average college tuition costs (including related fees) in West Virginia, according to the latest U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education figures (2015-2016), are:

Public 4-year in-state: $6,900

Public 4-year out-of-state: $18,833

Private 4-year in-state or out-of-state: $11,721

Public 2-year in-state: $3,825

Public 2-year out-of-state: $9,077

Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2017

Do West Virginia online college students pay in-state or out-of-state tuition?

As the figures listed above show, the differences in West Virginia in-state and out-of-state tuition rates are substantial. However, not all students living outside of West Virginia will have to pay full out-of-state tuition rates to attend a West Virginia online college.

1. Residents of West Virginia are eligible for in-state tuition rates for online programs offered by West Virginia public colleges and universities.

2. Out-of-state residents may be eligible for West Virginia in-state tuition rates for certain online programs through the SREB Academic Common Market.

How do I apply for financial aid in West Virginia?

Whether you’re a West Virginia resident or not, applying for most forms of federal and state student financial aid (scholarships, grants and especially loans) begins by filling out and submitting the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Currently, FAFSA forms are accepted from October 1 through June 30 prior to the academic year being applied for. The best time to submit the FAFSA form is as soon as possible on or after October 1.

Keep in mind that many schools have earlier deadlines to apply for state or institutional financial aid. For example, the application submission deadline for the state-sponsored PROMISE Scholarship program is currently March 1. The submission deadline for the state-sponsored Higher Education Grant program is currently April 15.

Generally speaking, students must continually meet what are known as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) minimums in order to qualify for and maintain their financial aid. Specific SAP requirements vary by school, but usually include a minimum GPA, minimum ratio of credits completed to credits attempted and a maximum time frame for program completion.

For example, SAP requirements for undergraduate and graduate students at West Virginia University include:

A maintained minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for undergraduates, 3.0 for graduates.

Successful completion of 67% of all credits hours attempted for undergrads, 70% for grads.

Undergraduates must complete their program of study within 150% of the stated timeframe for that program of study. Grad students must complete their program of study within 125% of the stated timeframe for their programs.

Students who fail to maintain SAP minimums will likely lose their financial aid benefits. However, most colleges have established standards and processes for reinstatement of benefits. For example, WVU students who have lost their financial aid due to extenuating circumstances may appeal for aid reinstatement.

West Virginia College Scholarships & Grants

Loans play a crucial role in how most people pay for college. However, many West Virginia students continue to ignore the two other sources available to help pay for their educations: scholarships and grants. The reason? Maybe they believe there simply aren’t any scholarships or grants they’d be eligible for. That’s a big mistake. The truth is that there are literally hundreds of scholarship and grant programs open to West Virginia students of all types – including those pursuing online degrees.

Which scholarships and grants can I apply for?

Scholarships and grants for West Virginia distance learners are offered by wide range of sources, from programs open to students throughout the entire country to programs earmarked for students attending a specific college or enrolled in a specific course of study.

The West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship program open to state resident high school students who meet certain eligibility requirements, including a cumulative 3.0 GPA and minimum SAT and ACT test scores. With the exception of persons entering military service, students must apply for the PROMISE Scholarship within two years of high school graduation.

The West Virginia Higher Education Grant is a need-based program for state residents who enroll at an approved postsecondary education institution in either West Virginia or Pennsylvania. Eligibility requirements include demonstrated financial need and academic promise, and enrollment as a full-time undergraduate. Applicants may not have previously earned a bachelor’s degree.

How do I apply for West Virginia scholarships and grants?

Every scholarship and grant program has its own application process, so it’s important to carefully review each one’s specific requirements, paying particular attention to deadlines. Typical application requirements include:

Submitting a fully-completed and correct application form;

Timely completion and submittal of standardized test scores, such as the SAT and ACT;

Providing all required personal, financial and academic information, including high school and previously-attended college transcripts;

Obtaining and submitting letters of recommendation;

Submitting a written application essay.

Many scholarship and grant programs rely on information provided by FAFSA in making their awards – including the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship and Higher Education Grant – so students should complete and submit their FAFSA form as soon as possible.

Best West Virginia Online Colleges: 2018

There are plenty of West Virginia online colleges to choose from. How do you know which are best in particular areas, like the best affordable online colleges in West Virginia or the best accredited online colleges in West Virginia?

Below are our rankings of the best West Virginia online colleges based on a range of factors to help you more quickly find the degree or certificate program that best suits your academic needs.

Colleges receive a total score based on performance in the following categories:

Average in-state net price for first-time/full-time undergraduates

Count and breadth of online programs available

Student-teacher ratio

6-year graduation rate (4-year schools only)

% of beginning, full-time undergrads receiving scholarship/grant aid from the college

Average $ of financial aid students receive directly from the college

Availability of academic/career counseling services

Availability of job placement services for students and graduates

3-year loan default rate

AC Online Peer-Based Value (PBV)*

*PBV is a proprietary metric that compares the cost of a program to the cost of other programs with the same (or a similar) qualitative score. It also compares the qualitative score of the program to the score of other programs with the same (or similar) cost. In short, the PBV calculation denotes the overall value – or ‘bang for your buck’ – of an online degree.

Our college rankings are backed by data collected and analyzed from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, a program managed by the National Center for Education Statistics. Surveying over 7,500 colleges annually, it is among the most longstanding and trusted providers of U.S. postsecondary information.

Located in historic Charleston, the University of Charleston is a private institution known for its small class sizes, with an average class ratio of 14 students to each instructor. The school offers close to 40 undergraduate and graduate programs through their School of Arts and Science, School of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, and School of Business and Leadership. Distance learning options are offered either completely online or through a blended format, and include six bachelor’s, three master’s and one doctoral degree. Online assignments and communication are handled through eLearn, an online course management system. Qualifying distance learners are eligible for financial aid, and military and first responders can receive reduced credit fees.

West Virginia University is a public university that places a strong focus on research and offers over 340 programs across its varied campuses. In addition its extensive list of on-campus offerings, the school also offers more than 30 degrees, eight certificates and some three hundred individual courses online. Non-traditional learners can take advantage of the Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) degree, which allows students to earn credit for military, work and/or life experience, in addition to College Equivalent Credits (CECs) for academic experience earned at other schools. All of the school’s online bachelor’s degrees can be finished completely online, but some of the graduate degree programs require partial attendance on campus. West Virginia University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with many of its programs also holding specialized accreditation.

Founded in 1827, Marshall University is West Virginia's oldest public postsecondary school. Located in downtown Huntington, Marshall University offers more than 100 programs at all levels, from certificate to doctoral degree. The school also has robust distance learning options, which includes an undergraduate certificate program, four online bachelor’s degrees, ten online graduate degrees and nine graduate certificates. All distance degree programs are offered completely online at discounted tuition rates. Online students have full access to various support services, such as academic advising, career services, libraries and the writing center, in addition to IT services if they experience any problems with the distance learning program.

Located in Athens, Concord University is a liberal arts school offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees. Noted as a “cost conscious” school, Concord University has the lowest average student loan debt of all four-year public institutions in West Virginia. Most of the degrees offered are at the undergraduate level, in various fields such as education, social work, psychology and studio art. But the university also offers four master’s degrees in the areas of health, education and social work. Students in need of additional financial help may be eligible for Concord’s Bonner Program, which awards scholarships to 80 students each year.

Founded in 1865, Fairmont State University spans across 120 acres and offers more than 80 degree programs for more than 4,000 students at its West Virginia campus. The average class size is 22 students to each professor. Online degrees are mostly offered at the graduate level, but individual online courses are also offered, which can be beneficial for degree seekers who can’t attend regular on-campus courses. The majority of distance education classes are taught online using the course management system Blackboard, but some courses may require students to visit campus up to three times each semester. Adults interested in pursuing military careers can enroll in the university's Air Force ROTC or the Army ROTC.

Bluefield State College offers a range of career-oriented degree programs at its main campus in Bluefield, and at its smaller campus at the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center in Beaver. More than sixty percent of Bluefield graduates earn degrees in STEM fields. Degrees are awarded in five disciplines: arts and sciences, business, education, engineering technology and computer science, and nursing and allied health. Bluefield aims to work with students’ busy schedules by offering many of their courses fully or partially online, with some hybrid courses including live-streamed lectures and in-class participation. Students on campus can also take advantage of student clubs - honors societies, service groups and Greek organizations - and academic support resources such as research labs and internships.

Finding the West Virginia Online College for You

Several factors go into finding the right online college. The first step is to decide on a course of study that will help you attain your individual career and personal goals. But that’s just the start. The next step is to research all available online colleges with programs in your area of academic interest. The questions and answers below will help get you going:

Which colleges in West Virginia accept work/life experience and transfer credits?

Most public and private colleges and universities in West Virginia accept transfer credits for coursework completed at other accredited postsecondary institutions in and out of the state. Each college has its own evaluation criteria for transfer credits, so students should always check on whether their credits will be transferable before enrolling in a program at a new school.

As an example, WVU accepts transfer credits earned for college-level courses (i.e., courses that are not developmental, remedial or technical in nature) received from recognized regionally accredited institutions. WVU uses the Transfer Equivalency System (TES) to determine how credits will be transferred from other schools. Credits may transfer in two ways: “Exact equivalents”, where the course taken closely matches one offered at WVU, and “open credits”, where there is no similar course offered at WVU, so credits may be applied in general to the student’s degree program as determined by the particular academic department.

Many West Virginia colleges also award credits for “non-traditional” college-level learning experiences, such as demonstrable workplace training or life experience. Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College offers college credit equivalence for a variety of types of learning and skills, including military training, on-the-job vocational training, personal development and enrichment activities (like hobbies), special licensure and certifications, independent study, course work from non-accredited institutions and more. Credit assessment is determined by Eastern faculty and advisors.

Students interested in finding out more about transfer credits and non-traditional credit awards should contact the registrar’s office at each West Virginia online college under consideration.

If I live in West Virginia, do I need to pick an online college in West Virginia?

No. Most postsecondary distance learning programs are open to otherwise-qualified students regardless of where the program – or the student – is located. That means that West Virginia residents may choose an online college anywhere, inside or outside the state. Remember, though, that tuition costs for an out-of-state based online college program may be substantially higher than for a similar in-state program.

How do I choose a West Virginia online college?

When researching online college and university programs it’s important to keep in mind several important factors, including school reputation, tuition costs, available academic support services, technical course delivery requirements and more. But the most important factor to consider is accreditation. All online colleges and programs discussed in this guide are fully and properly accredited.